VI-RADS followed by Photodynamic Transurethral Resection of Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer vs White-Light Conventional and Second-resection: the 'CUT-less' Randomised Trial Protocol.

BACKGROUND: A second transurethral resection of bladder tumour (Re-TURBT) is recommended by European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines on non-muscle-invasive bladder cancers (NMIBCs) due to the risk of understaging and/or persistent disease following the primary resection. However, in many cases this may be unnecessary, potentially harmful, and significantly expensive constituting overtreatment. The CUT-less trial aims to combine the preoperative staging accuracy of Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) and the intraoperative enhanced ability of photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) to overcome the primary TURBT pitfalls thus potentially re-defining criteria for Re-TURBT indications. STUDY DESIGN: Single-centre, non-inferiority, phase IV, open-label, randomised controlled trial with 1:1 ratio. ENDPOINTS: The primary endpoint is short-term BC recurrence between the study arms to assess whether patients preoperatively categorised as VI-RADS Score 1 and/or Score 2 (i.e., very-low and low likelihood of MIBC) could safely avoid Re-TURBT by undergoing primary PDD-TURBT. Secondary endpoints include mid- and long-term BC recurrences and progression (i-ii). Also, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes (iii) and health-economic cost-benefit analysis (iv) will be performed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients will undergo preoperative Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the bladder with VI-RADS score determination. A total of 327 patients with intermediate-/high-risk NMIBCs, candidate for Re-TURBT according to EAU Guidelines, will be enrolled over a 3-year period. Participants will be randomised (1:1 ratio) to either standard of care (SoC), comprising primary white-light (WL) TURBT followed by second WL Re-TURBT; or the Experimental arm, comprising primary PDD-TURBT and omitting Re-TURBT. Both groups will receive adjuvant intravesical therapy and surveillance according to risk-adjusted schedules. Measure of the primary outcome will be the relative proportion of BC recurrences between the SoC and Experimental arms within 4.5 months (i.e., any 'early' recurrence detected at first follow-up cystoscopy). Secondary outcomes measures will be the relative proportion of late BC recurrences and/or BC progression detected after 4.5 months follow-up. Additionally, we will compute the HRQoL variation from NMIBC questionnaires modelled over a patient lifetime horizon and the health-economic analyses including a short-term cost-benefit assessment of incremental costs per Re-TURBT avoided and a longer-term cost-utility per quality-adjusted life year gained using 2-year clinical outcomes to drive a lifetime model across the two arms of treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrial.gov identifier (ID): NCT05962541; European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT) ID: 2023-507307-64-00.

FGFR Inhibition in Urothelial Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The 2024 US Food and Drug Administration approval of erdafitinib for the treatment of metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) with FGFR3 alterations ushered in the era of targeted therapy for bladder cancer. In this review, we summarize the effects of FGFR pathway alterations in oncogenesis, clinical data supporting FGFR inhibitors in the management of bladder cancer, and the challenges that remain. METHODS: Original articles relevant to FGFR inhibitors in urothelial cancer between 1995 and 2024 were systematically identified in the PubMed and MEDLINE databases using the search terms "FGFR" and "bladder cancer". An international expert panel with extensive experience in FGFR inhibitor treatment was convened to synthesize a collaborative narrative review. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: Somatic FGFR3 alterations are found in up to 70% of low-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancers; these activate downstream signaling cascades and culminate in cellular proliferation. Beyond a link to lower-grade/lower-stage tumors, there is little consistency regarding whether these alterations confer prognostic risks for cancer recurrence or progression. FGFR3-altered tumors have been linked to a non-inflamed tumor microenvironment, but paradoxically do not seem to impact the response to systemic immunotherapy. Several pan-FGFR inhibitors have been investigated in mUC. With the introduction of novel intravesical drug delivery systems, FGFR inhibitors are poised to transform the therapeutic landscape for early-stage UC. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: With deepening understanding of the biology of bladder cancer, novel diagnostics, and improved drug delivery methods, we posit that FGFR inhibition will lead the way in advancing precision treatment of bladder cancer.

Clinical Significance of Tumor Location for Ureteroscopic Tumor Grading in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma.

Background: Although previous literature shows tumor location as a prognostic factor in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), there remains uninvestigated regarding the impact of tumor location on grade concordance and discrepancies between ureteroscopic (URS) biopsy and final radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) pathology. Methods: In this international study, we retrospectively reviewed the records of 1,498 patients with UTUC who underwent diagnostic URS with concomitant biopsy followed by RNU between 2005 and 2020. Tumor location was divided into four sections: the calyceal-pelvic system, proximal ureter, middle ureter, and distal ureter. Patients with multifocal tumors were excluded from the study. We performed multiple comparison tests and logistic regression analyses. Results: Overall, 1,154 patients were included; 54.4% of those with low-grade URS biopsies were upgraded on RNU. In the multiple comparison tests, middle ureter tumors exhibited the highest probability of upgrading, meanwhile pelvicalyceal tumors exhibited the lowest probability of upgrading (73.7% vs 48.5%, p = 0.007). Downgrading was comparable across all tumor locations. On multivariate analyses, middle ureteral location was significantly associated with a low probability of grade concordance (odds ratio [OR] 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.35-1.00; p = 0.049) and an increased risk of upgrading (OR 2.80; 95% CI, 1.20-6.52; p = 0.017). The discordance did not vary regardless of caliceal location, including the lower calyx. Conclusions: Middle ureteral tumors diagnosed to be low grade had a high probability to be undergraded. Our data can inform providers and their patients regarding the likelihood of undergrading according to tumor location, facilitating patient counseling and shared decision making regarding the choice of kidney sparing vs RNU.

5α-reductase inhibitors with or without alpha-blockers and risk of incident upper tract urothelial carcinoma in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: Analysis of US insurance claims data.

BACKGROUND: Increasing data suggests that androgen receptor signaling may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of urothelial cancers. While the chemoprotective effect of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARi) on bladder cancer risk in men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) has been explored with conflicting results, the evidence regarding 5-ARi treatment, and the risk of incident Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma (UTUC) development is lacking. Therefore, our objective was to investigate the impact of the 5-ARi administration on the incidence of new UTUC cases using a large US database. METHODS: The MerativeTM Marketscan® database was used to identify men ≥ 50 years old with a diagnosis of BPH and an active 5-ARi prescription between 2007 and 2021 and were subsequently matched with paired controls. A multivariable Cox regression model was implemented to ascertain the association of 5-ARi and/or alpha-blocker (α-B) medications on the incidence of UTUC. Additional subgroup analyses were conducted based on exposure risk (with a 2-year threshold) to investigate the relationship between 5-ARi and UTUC over time. RESULTS: Overall, n=1,103,743 men BPH without prescriptions for BPH, n=31,142 men on 5-ARi, and n=160,049 using 5-ARi + α-B were identified. Over the follow-up period, a total of n=4,761 patients were diagnosed with UTUC. After matching, UTUC incidence ranged from 0.36% to 0.41% in men without active BPH therapy vs. 0.30% and 0.52% for the 5-ARi and 5-ARi + α-B groups, respectively. In multivariable analysis, the chemoprotective effect on UTUC risk was not observed for either 5-ARi monotherapy (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.58-1.44) or 5-ARi + α-B combination (aHR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.87-1.19). This remained true for both short-term (≤ 2 years) and long-term (> 2 years) follow-up periods. CONCLUSIONS: The use of 5-ARi for BPH, whether used alone or in combination with α-B, is not associated with incident UTUC.

Primary pyeloplasty for uretero-pelvic obstruction in the USA adult population with or without double-J indwelling ureteral stents. Insurance claims data on contemporary time to removal trends, perioperative complications, health care costs, and re-intervention rates.

BACKGROUND: Using a large population-based dataset, we primarily sought to compare postoperative complications, health-care expenditures, and re-intervention rates between patients diagnosed with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) undergoing stented vs. non-stented pyeloplasty. The secondary objective was to investigate factors that influence the timing of DJ stent removal. METHODS: Patients ≥18 years old with UPJO treated with primary open or minimally-invasive pyeloplasty were identified using the Merative™ Marketscan® Databases between 2007-2021. Multivariable modeling was implemented to investigate the association between Double-J (DJ) stent placement and post-pyeloplasty complications, hospital costs, and re-intervention rates and the role of the perioperative predictors on time to DJ stent removal. Subgroup analyses stratified by ureteral stenting duration were additionally performed. RESULTS: Out of 4872 patients who underwent primary pyeloplasty, 4154 (85.3%) had DJ placement. Postoperative complications were rare (N.=218, 4.47%) and not associated with ureteral stenting (odds ratio [OR]: 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.55-1.12). The median cost for in-hospital charges was $21,775, with DJ stent placement independently increasing the median aggregate amount (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.09-1.53). Overall, re-interventions were performed in 21.18% of patients, with DJ stenting found to be protective (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66-0.96). Higher Charlson Comorbidity Index, longer hospital stay, and open surgical approach were independent predictors for prolonged DJ stenting time to removal. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that patients undergoing stent-less pyeloplasty did have a higher rate of secondary procedures, but not higher complications when compared to those undergoing stented procedures. Concurrently, the non-stented approach is associated with decreased health-care expenditures, despite the increased rates of secondary procedures.

Lights and Shadows of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-exposed and BCG-unresponsive Definitions: A Practical Overview.

According to the current definitions of recurrence of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer after bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), patients in the BCG-exposed and late relapse categories might benefit from further instillations. Patients with BCG-unresponsive disease could be included in clinical trials, but otherwise radical cystectomy is the preferred treatment. BCG-intolerant disease still represents an area of debate, with limited evidence regarding the best treatment for these patients.

Tissue-based Biomarkers Steering Clinical Decisions in Patients with Urothelial Cancer.

The European Association of Urology (EAU), National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and European Society for Medical Oncology guidelines recommend PD-L1 and FGFR testing for patients with locally advanced bladder cancer or upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) according to specific eligibility criteria; positive results indicate therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors or erdafitinib, respectively. The EAU guidelines recommend PD-L1 testing for subsequent adjuvant therapy in high-risk UC, and germline DNA sequencing in patients with UTUC positive for DNA mismatch repair alterations.

European Association of Urology Guidelines on Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer (TaT1 and Carcinoma In Situ)-A Summary of the 2024 Guidelines Update.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This publication represents a summary of the updated 2024 European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), TaT1, and carcinoma in situ. The information presented herein is limited to urothelial carcinoma, unless specified otherwise. The aim is to provide practical recommendations on the clinical management of NMIBC with a focus on clinical presentation. METHODS: For the 2024 guidelines on NMIBC, new and relevant evidence was identified, collated, and appraised via a structured assessment of the literature. Databases searched included Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Libraries. Recommendations within the guidelines were developed by the panel to prioritise clinically important care decisions. The strength of each recommendation was determined according to a balance between desirable and undesirable consequences of alternative management strategies, the quality of the evidence (including the certainty of estimates), and the nature and variability of patient values and preferences. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: Key recommendations emphasise the importance of thorough diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for patients with NMIBC. The guidelines stress the importance of defining patients' risk stratification and treating them appropriately. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This overview of the 2024 EAU guidelines offers valuable insights into risk factors, diagnosis, classification, prognostic factors, treatment, and follow-up of NMIBC. These guidelines are designed for effective integration into clinical practice.

Correlation analysis between renal papillae Hounsfield density (PHD) and endoscopic papillary description in stone formers.

We aimed to evaluate the correlation between endoscopic papillary abnormalities (PA) and high renal papilla Hounsfield density (PHD) on CT scan in patients who underwent flexible ureteroscopic treatment (fURS) for renal stones. We retrospectively assessed patients from a prospectively collected database who were treated with fURS for renal stones between May 2016 and October 2020. PHD was measured on preoperative CT-scan by a radiologist blinded from the intraoperative aspect of the papillae. Correlation was examined between high PHD (≥ 43 HU) and PA described in fURS, stone composition, metabolic abnormalities, … Out of 159 consecutive cases, 131 were eligible for analysis with available preoperative CT-scan. Median age was 55 years (IQR 43-67) and median PHD was 40 (IQR 36-45). Eighty patients (61%) had PHD < 43, and 51 patients (39%) had PHD ≥ 43. In univariate and multivariate analysis, only young age (p-value = 0.017) and insufficient diuresis (p-value = 0.008) were correlated with high PHD. No significant correlation was found with PA described during endoscopy, including the intensity of Randall's plaques. In this study, high PHD appears to be only a sign of insufficient diuresis, with no significant correlation with potential PA.

Cisplatin eligibility in the neoadjuvant setting of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy.

BACKGROUND: To examine the agreement of different calculated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) formulas and measured creatinine clearance (CrCI) at the primary diagnosis of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a multicenter analysis of patients with MIBC, treated with cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and radical cystectomy (RC), or with RC alone, between 2011 and 2021. Baseline eGFR was computed using 4 calculated serum equations including Cockcroft-Gault (CG), MDRD, CKD-EPI 2009, and race-free CKD-EPI 2021. To examine the association between calculated eGFR and measured CrCI, subgroup analyses were performed among patients in whom measured 24-hour urine CrCl was determined. Cisplatin-ineligibility was defined as CrCI and/or eGFR < 60 mL/minute per 1.73 m2. RESULTS: Of 956 patients, 30.0%, 33.3%, 31.9%, and 27.7% were found to be cisplatin-ineligible by the CG, MDRD, CKD-EPI, and race-free CKD-EPI equations (P = .052). The concordance between calculated eGFR formulas was rated substantial (Cohen's kappa (k): 0.66-0.95). Among the subgroup (n = 245) with measured CrCl, 37 (15.1%) patients had a CrCI less than 60 mL/minute. Concordance between measured CrCl and calculated eGFR was poor (ĸ: 0.29-0.40). All calculated eGFR formulas markedly underestimated the measured CrCI. Specifically, 78%-87.5% of patients with a calculated eGFR between 40 and 59 mL/minute exhibited a measured CrCI ≥ 60 mL/minute. CONCLUSIONS: Comparing calculated eGFR formulas, similar percentages of patients with MIBC were deemed cisplatin-ineligible. However, a significant number of patients could be upgraded by being cisplatin-fit based on measured CrCI, particularly when the calculated eGFR was falling within the gray range of 40-59 mL/minute.

Global burden, risk factors, and temporal trends of ureteral cancer: a comprehensive analysis of cancer registries.

BACKGROUND: Ureteral cancer is a rare cancer. This study aimed to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive analysis on the global trends of ureteral cancer incidence and its association with lifestyle and metabolic risk factors. METHODS: The incidence of ureteral cancer was estimated from the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Plus and Global Cancer Observatory databases. We analyzed the (1) global incidence of ureteral cancer by region, country, sex, and age group by age-standardized rates (ASR); (2) associated risk factors on a population level by univariable linear regression with logarithm transformation; and (3) incidence trend of ureteral cancer by sex and age group in different countries by Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC). RESULTS: The global age-standardized rate of ureteral cancer incidence in 2022 was 22.3 per 10,000,000 people. Regions with higher human development index (HDI), such as Europe, Northern America, and East Asia, were found to have a higher incidence of ureteral cancer. Higher HDI and gross domestic product (GDP) and a higher prevalence of smoking, alcohol drinking, physical inactivity, unhealthy dietary, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and lipid disorder were associated with higher incidence of ureteral cancer. An overall increasing trend of ureteral cancer incidence was observed for the past decade, especially among the female population. CONCLUSIONS: Although ureteral cancer was relatively rare, the number of cases reported was rising over the world. The rising trends among females were more evident compared with the other subgroups, especially in European countries. Further studies could be conducted to examine the reasons behind these epidemiological changes and confirm the relationship with the risk factors identified.

Perioperative Outcomes and Trends in Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumors with Photodynamic Diagnosis: Results from the GeRmAn Nationwide Inpatient Data Study.

Background: Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) during transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is guideline recommended, as it improves bladder cancer detection rates. However, the extent to which PDD is implemented in everyday clinical practice has not been thoroughly assessed. We aimed to evaluate the current trends and major perioperative outcomes of TURBT with PDD. Methods: The present study evaluated the GeRmAn Nationwide inpatient Data (GRAND) from 2010 (the year when PDD started to be coded separately in Germany) to 2021, which were made available from the Research Data Center of the German Bureau of Statistics. We undertook numerous patient-level and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: Overall, 972,208 TURBTs [228,207 (23%) with PDD and 744,001 (77%) with white light] were performed. Patients offered PDD during TURBT were younger (p < 0.001), presented fewer comorbidities (p < 0.001) and were discharged earlier from hospital (p < 0.001). PDD was associated with additional costs of about EUR 500 compared to white-light TURBT (p < 0.001). The yearly TURBT cases remained relatively stable from 2010 to 2021, whereas utilization of PDD underwent a 2-fold increase. After adjusting for major risk factors in the multivariate regression analysis, PDD was related to lower rates of transfusion (1.4% vs. 5.6%, OR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.31, p < 0.001), intensive care unit admission (0.7% vs. 1.4%, OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.59, p < 0.001) and 30-day in-hospital mortality (0.1% vs. 0.7%, OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.22 to 0.27, p < 0.001) compared to white-light TURBT. On the contrary, PDD was related to clinically insignificant higher rates of bladder perforation (0.6% versus 0.5%, OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.2 to 1.4, p < 0.001), and reoperation (2.6% versus 2.3%, OR: 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1 to 1.2, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The utilization of PDD with TURBT is steadily increasing. Nevertheless, the road toward the establishment of PDD as the standard of care for TURBT is still long, despite of the advantages of PDD.

The Role of Mitomycin C in Intermediate-risk Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Intravesical mitomycin C (MMC) instillations are recommended to prevent recurrence of intermediate-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (IR-NMIBC); however, the optimal regimen and dose are uncertain. Our aim was to assess the effectiveness of adjuvant MMC and compare different MMC regimens in preventing recurrence. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive search in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science in November 2023 for studies investigating recurrence-free survival (RFS) among patients with IR-NMIBC who received adjuvant MMC. Prospective trials with different MMC regimens or other intravesical drugs as comparators were considered eligible. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: Overall, 14 studies were eligible for systematic review and 11 for meta-analysis of RFS. Estimates of 1-yr, 2-yr, and 5-yr RFS rates were 84% (95% confidence interval [CI] 79-89%), 75% (95% CI 68-82%), and 51% (95% CI 40-63%) for patients treated with MMC induction plus maintenance, and 88% (95% CI 83-94%), 78% (95% CI 67-89%), and 66% (95% CI 57-75%) for patients treated with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) maintenance, respectively. Estimates of 2-yr RFS rates for MMC maintenance regimens were 76% (95% CI 69-84%) for 40 mg MMC (2 studies) and 66% (95% CI 60-72%) for 30 mg MMC (4 studies). Among the studies included, BCG maintenance provided comparable 2-yr RFS to 40 mg MMC with maintenance (78% vs 76%). RFS did not differ by MMC maintenance duration (>1 yr vs 1 yr vs <1 yr). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: MMC induction and maintenance regimens seem to provide short-term RFS rates equivalent to those for BCG maintenance in IR-NMIBC. For adjuvant induction and maintenance, 40 mg of MMC appears to be more effective in preventing recurrence than 30 mg. We did not observe an RFS benefit for longer maintenance regimens. PATIENT SUMMARY: For patients with intermediate-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, bladder treatments with a solution of a drug called mitomycin C (MMC) seem to be as effective as BCG (bacillus Calmette-Guérin) in preventing recurrence after tumor removal. Further trials are needed for stronger evidence on the best MMC dose and treatment time.

Clinical Validation of the Intermediate-risk Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer Scoring System and Substratification Model Proposed by the International Bladder Cancer Group: A Multicenter Young Academic Urologists Urothelial Working Group Collaboration.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Intermediate-risk (IR) non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) encompasses a broad spectrum of disease, with heterogeneous outcomes in terms of disease recurrence and progression. The International Bladder Cancer Group (IBCG) recently proposed an updated scoring model for IR substratification that is based on five key risk factors. Our aim was to provide a clinical validation of the IBCG scoring system and substratification model for IR NMIBC. METHODS: This was an international multicenter retrospective study. Patients diagnosed with IR NMIBC between 2012 and 2022 and treated with transurethral resection of the bladder and adjuvant intravesical chemotherapy were included. According to the presence or absence of risk factors, patients with IR NMIBC were further categorized in IR-low (no risk factors), IR-intermediate (1-2 risk factors), and IR-high (≥3 risk factors) groups. The 1-yr and 3-yr rates for recurrence-free survival (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated for each subgroup. Cox regression analyses were used to compare oncological outcomes between the groups. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: Of the 677 patients with IR NMIBC included in the study, 231 (34%), 364 (54%), and 82 (12%) were categorized in the IR-low, IR-intermediate, and IR-high groups, respectively. There were significant differences in RFS and PFS rates between these groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: We provide the first clinical validation of the IBCG scoring system and model for substratification of IR NMIBC. PATIENT SUMMARY: Our study demonstrates that patients with intermediate-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer can be correctly classified into three distinct subgroups according to their risk of both disease recurrence and progression. Our results support use of this scoring system in clinical practice.

Consistencies in Follow-up After Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer: A Framework Based on Expert Practices Collaboratively Developed by the European Association of Urology Bladder Cancer Guideline Panels.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There is no standardized regimen for follow-up after radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer (BC). To address this gap, we conducted a multicenter study involving urologist members from the European Association of Urology (EAU) bladder cancer guideline panels. Our objective was to identify consistent post-RC follow-up strategies and develop a practice-based framework based on expert opinion. METHODS: We surveyed 27 urologist members of the EAU guideline panels for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and muscle-invasive and metastatic bladder cancer using a pre-tested questionnaire with dichotomous responses. The survey inquired about follow-up strategies after RC and the use of risk-adapted strategies. Consistency was defined as >75% affirmative responses for follow-up practices commencing 3 mo after RC. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: We received responses from 96% of the panel members, who provided data from 21 European hospitals. Risk-adapted follow-up is used in 53% of hospitals, with uniform criteria for high-risk (at least ≥pT3 or pN+) and low-risk ([y]pT0/a/1N0) cases. In the absence of agreement for risk-based follow up, a non-risk-adapted framework for follow-up was developed. Higher conformity was observed within the initial 3 yr, followed by a decline in subsequent follow-up. Follow-up was most frequent during the first year, including patient assessments, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. Computed tomography of the chest and abdomen/pelvis was the most common imaging modality, initially at least biannually, and then annually from years 2 to 5. There was a lack of consistency for continuing follow-up beyond 10 yr after RC. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This practice-based post-RC follow-up framework developed by EAU bladder cancer experts may serve as a valuable guide for urologists in the absence of prospective randomized studies. PATIENT SUMMARY: We asked urologists from the EAU bladder cancer guideline panels about their patient follow-up after surgical removal of the bladder for bladder cancer. We found that although urologists have varying approaches, there are also common follow-up practices across the panel. We created a practical follow-up framework that could be useful for urologists in their day-to-day practice.

Patient experience and satisfaction after same-day discharge radical prostatectomy using a personalized, digital perioperative programme.

PURPOSE: To assess the patient experience and satisfaction after the implementation in routine of a personalized, digital programme before and after same-day discharge (SDD) robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). METHODS: The study is a pre/post-interventional, multi-surgeon, unicentre, prospective study. All consecutive patients undergoing SDD RARP were included during a 6-month period. After a pre-interventional assessment of the satisfaction rate (n = 26), all patients (n = 46) were introduced to the Betty. Care platform and followed the BETTY COACHING programme which included a specific radical prostatectomy module. The primary endpoint was patient satisfaction 6 weeks after SDD RARP. Secondary endpoints were hospital stay, readmission and complications rates, unplanned visits, and remote monitoring data. RESULTS: Median age and PSA were 66 years and 7.0 ng/ml. Lymph node-dissection and nerve-sparing procedures were performed in 41.3 and 87.0% of patients, respectively. Median operative time and blood loss were 80 min and 150 ml, respectively. The 90-day rates of unplanned visits, readmission and complications were improved after the digital tool implementation (2.2, 2.2, and 8.7%, respectively). Mean satisfaction score was 9.6 out of 10 (8.0 before implementation). Median duration of pain was 2 days after discharge, with median pain intensity of 2/10. Median duration of daily active use of remote monitoring was 34 days. The urinary continence rate was 91.3% 6 weeks after surgery in the postinterventional cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a personalized, surgery-specific, digital programme combining prehabilitation, patient education, rehabilitation, patient-reported outcome measurement and remote monitoring, improves patient experience and satisfaction and could help promoting early discharge even after a major surgery.

Early and late post-procedural complications in different orthotopic neobladder surgical approaches: A systematic review.

Bladder cancer (BCa) represents the second most common malignancy of the genitourinary tract. The major risk factors include age, gender, smoking attitude, and occupational exposure, while the exact etiopathogenesis is still uncertain. Patients diagnosed with a BCa showing invasion of the muscle layer below the submucosa must undergo radical cystectomy (RC) with urinary diversion (UD). Many different surgical approaches to UD have been developed. Packaging an orthotopic neobladder (ON) with a bowel tract represents the gold standard when certain patient selection criteria are satisfied. Using PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic review assessing early (within 90 days) and late (beyond 90 days) post-procedural complications of different ON surgical approaches. A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases to identify papers starting from 2012 using dedicated keywords ("neobladder", "orthotopic neobladder", "complications'' and "outcomes"). A total of 27 articles were found to satisfy the inclusion criteria and selected. Although the ON is a safe procedure that guarantees the patient the best quality of life (QoL), it is not free from risks. Many complications could occur during and after the surgical time which imposes the necessity of strict follow-up and careful checks over time, which should be properly discussed with patients before.

Application of the ERAS guidelines in pediatric urological surgery: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Consensus for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in pediatrics has been achieved in neonatal intestinal surgery, yet it is not widely utilized in pediatric urology. We investigated the application of ERAS guidelines in pediatric urology, and determined its effects given the available level of evidence supporting the ERAS protocol in children. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic literature review including series providing adoption of fast-track recovery protocols for pediatric urology procedures was carried out. Main outcome measures were study characteristics, adherence to the 19 ERAS items, complication rates and length of hospital stay. Sub-group analysis by surgery type (hypospadias versus major surgery) was performed. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Nine series with data from 1272 surgical pediatric cases were included. An enhanced recovery pathway was applied in 67.3% of the reports. Two series included patients undergoing hypospadias repair and ERAS items were insufficiently reported. Studies including children undergoing major procedures mentioned a median of 15 ERAS items, yet applied a median of 11 items. Median compliance rate was 88.9% (range 50-100). More ERAS guideline items were reported (applied or mentioned) in the most recently published studies. CONCLUSIONS: There is limited reporting and use of the ERAS guidelines in urologic surgery particularly in hypospadias repair; whilst in major surgery in children, adherence and compliance rates vary widely. In more recent series there was an increase in ERAS items that have been mentioned and applied. Future research is needed to identify barriers and to overcome them in order to fully adopt and benefit from the ERAS pathway.